Decisions.. 2005 Carrera or 2009 Cayman

[Vipergrün]

I am considering both a 2005 Carrera with new clutch/IMS and also a 2009 Cayman, which does not have an IMS. Cost is nearly the same. Both are manual transmission, I just cannot go PDK.....yet. I probably cannot afford a 2009 Carrera or the decision would be made. I don't want anything newer than the 997.

I realize they are fundamentally different. The Cayman is almost too perfect and balanced. The Carrera is nothing like my old SC's, but still fun.

From a practical standpoint, I can probably get by with two seats as the rear seats in the Carrera are cramped, but are there in a pinch.

I am probably leaning a bit more toward the Cayman, but I keep looking at the Carrera..

Yeah, first world problems. LOL

Any thoughts by the Pelican crew?

[recycled sixtie]

I tried an early water cooled 911. It was a 99 and yes I tried a 2003 911.
They both felt like GT's. I owned a base 2001 Boxster. It felt more lively and balanced on corners. My next dream car would be a 2009 or later Cayman. If you don't need the occasional back seats of a 911 then I would think that the Cayman would be the solution.

[fanaudical]

I've gone back/forth on a similar question for myself for the last couple of years. I keep leaning toward the Cayman as it seems a bit easier to do some DIY service. I doubt I would see any performance difference between the two in the situations I drive at (<90 mph and no track days).

[HardDrive]

It really comes down to how you're going to use it. I owned a 2005 Carrera, and have driven a Cayman. I also owned a boxster. The 986/7 platform is certainly more of a sports car. Feels lighter and more nimble. The 911 is (IMHO) a GT car. In everyday driving, its more comfortable, has more space. If this is going to need to do service as a daily driver, 911. If it's a toy, and you have a daily driver, Cayman.

[aschen]

Id rather have a cayman (S?) Than a Carrera, wihout even taking the age difference

[black_falcon]

If it's a 997, I would go with that. A gray 997 passed me while jogging the other day, accelerated hard from a stop to show off for the neighborhood kids, just a beautiful timeless automobile and one of the best looking 911's. Want want want.

[masraum]

2009 doesn't have an IMS, so doesn't require IMS retrofit/fix.

I would think that the Cayman would give you a driving experience more similar to the SC if that's what you're looking for.

Most folks say the best will be the newest that you can afford. In this case, or even if it was my choice, and condition and options suited me equally between the two cars, then I'd drive them both and get the one that tugged at my heart more.

A couple of years ago, I drove several newer Porsches, 911s, Cayman, Boxsters. I even drove a 2001 996tt expecting to be really knocked out by it, but was really shocked when I wasn't. The cars that really did it for me where the mid engined cars. I would have happily bought either a Boxster or Cayman, but got the Boxster because it was the one that I found that spoke to me the most, it was an S with sport-chrono, sport-exhaust, PASM, sport seats, low miles, CPO and a cool red interior. It didn't hurt that it was a special edition and came with the optional hard top too.

[Tervuren]

For a coupe, from the driver's seat, the 911 is just the better car. The 911 has a more complicated suspension setup. On a smooth track you might not notice the difference, but on the roads, with bumps, cracks, etc, the 911 just feels better in a corner.

I also overall have a natural driving style that better suits the 911, so I might have a bias to the 911 just from the way I want a car to handle.

Sadly, no 911 for me, yet.

I do however, think the Cayman looks nicer from behind, but when driving, that isn't your view.

I would much rather a 911 Coupe over a Cayman.

For open top, well, maybe the Boxster over the 911 Cab.

[CarreraDan]

I had this dilemma a couple years ago and fully understand the struggle. I truly loved my G50 Carrera and went out to buy a 2009+ Carrera to get back into the Porsche game. I test drove a few Carrera's and they all felt like GT cars, that raw, emotional side of my old Carrera was gone. By the time I was starting to enjoy them I was in felony speed territory and I really didn't know what to do.

I had never driven a Cayman and really didn't know too much about them. I had trouble finding good examples with the options I wanted but did get to drive a few. The fun, raw, emotional side of the old Carrera is alive in the Cayman. The balance and lateral grip of the damn thing defies the laws of physics (until it doesn't--be careful). The 2.9 is a fun engine and the 6 speed goes well with it. I saved close to $20k over a CPO Carrera going for a CPO Cayman and don't regret it. It takes a little time to adjust to the mid engine but once you do it just makes sense. I do my own maintenance and I really don't mind working on it, the oil filter is a pain without a lift but easily doable. Modern Porsche's are different, I still miss my 88 but the Cayman is a fun toy. Luggage space is fantastic and you would be surprised just what will fit in the car. It is currently our adult getaway car so we don't miss the back seats.

Drive some examples and find what speaks to you, I don't think you can go wrong with either, they are both great cars.

[Brando]

I've driven both but bought the Cayman. Loved it until the engine started making a very expensive sound. It was a 2006

The 2009 has the looming issues solved. It will handle better than the Carerra out of the hox and be more fun in the corners. Get a 3.4 S if you can. Mine had so much low-down torque with the exhaust and softronic tune. I would get another if I could right now.

[wildthing]

I'm guessing the budget is around $40k. If you are patient enough, a 997.2 base occasionally shows up in that range, even below. Even an S would show up at 43,850 from time to time...

[stealthn]

Ah troubles eh

I went from a 05 Cayenne turbo and 79 SC to an 06 Cayman and couldn't be happier. The decision for me was to try to keep the small agile fn of the SC with more modern safety of a newer car. The Cayman fit this perfectly. A few tweeks to the suspension and exhuast and it's awesome. Of course I am always looking for my next Porsche but it will be an addition to the Cayman S.

Probably a GT4 or GT3, that's the though choice....

Good luck

[Vipergrün]

Thanks for the great responses! I think the Cayman will give me more of what I am looking for. I am trying to find an "S", but a well equipped base would be fine. I found a 2014 in silver/red, which is my dream combo, but have read the new Cayman is even further removed from that visceral feel and has electronic steering, etc. The selection of 09-12 Caymans with manual is fairly limited.

[HardDrive]

Originally Posted by brando

i've driven both but bought the cayman. Loved it until the engine started making a very expensive sound. It was a 2006

ims?

[Brando]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

ims?

Never found out the exact problem. Sounded like many things: cam off-time, bad cam timing solenoid, IMS.. I sold the car as I was also in the middle of buying a house and every estimate I got was $14k+ to get it back in working order.

Definitely buy 2008 or newer.

[rusnak]

I would go for the 2009 Cayman.


2011 Cayman S:

[wildthing]

I don't know. I like the look of the 2012- Caymans better.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by CarreraDan

I had this dilemma a couple years ago and fully understand the struggle. I truly loved my G50 Carrera and went out to buy a 2009+ Carrera to get back into the Porsche game. I test drove a few Carrera's and they all felt like GT cars, that raw, emotional side of my old Carrera was gone. By the time I was starting to enjoy them I was in felony speed territory and I really didn't know what to do.

I had never driven a Cayman and really didn't know too much about them. I had trouble finding good examples with the options I wanted but did get to drive a few. The fun, raw, emotional side of the old Carrera is alive in the Cayman. The balance and lateral grip of the damn thing defies the laws of physics (until it doesn't--be careful). The 2.9 is a fun engine and the 6 speed goes well with it. I saved close to $20k over a CPO Carrera going for a CPO Cayman and don't regret it. It takes a little time to adjust to the mid engine but once you do it just makes sense. I do my own maintenance and I really don't mind working on it, the oil filter is a pain without a lift but easily doable. Modern Porsche's are different, I still miss my 88 but the Cayman is a fun toy. Luggage space is fantastic and you would be surprised just what will fit in the car. It is currently our adult getaway car so we don't miss the back seats.

Drive some examples and find what speaks to you, I don't think you can go wrong with either, they are both great cars.

That sounds like a similar story to mine, 88 targa, sold, then was going to get a newer 911, but ended up with an '08 Boxster S because it was closer to the old '88,

[Jeff Alton]

2009 Cayman. More likely to suffer other failure than IMS on the 2005. The 9A1 is very robust.

[Brando]

Please elaborate. I would like to know because I would like to get another Cayman S in the future too.

Originally Posted by Jeff Alton

2009 Cayman. More likely to suffer other failure than IMS on the 2005. The 9A1 is very robust.